Secretary-General of the Syrian Coalition Abdul Ilah Fahd called on sisterly and friendly countries to step up support for the Syrian interim government and the Free Syrian Army groups participating in the Shield of the Euphrates Operation in order to help restore life to normality in the areas being liberated from the ISIS extremist group in norther Syria.

During a field visit to the border town of Azaz in northern Syria on Wednesday, Fahd stressed the importance of restoring security and the provision of basic services to the civilian population who are returning to their homes in northern rural Aleppo.

Fahd, who was visiting the liberated areas on the border with Turkey along with head of the Syrian interim government Jawad Abu Hatab, said that the interim government is sparing no effort to repair and revamp vital civilian facilities damaged by the fighting between the FSA groups and ISIS.

Over 6 million Syrians are set to benefit from projects developed by the interim government, Fahd said. Providing enough support for these projects is crucial to make sure the population does not fall into the snare of terrorist organizations seeking to exploit the needs of civilians to recruit them into their ranks.

Fahd and Abu Hatab visited the headquarters of the Syrian interim government, the Free University of Aleppo, the Teachers Institute, and a number of schools.

Fahd and Abu Hatab also visited the interim government-run grain office, the mills, the seed multiplication center, the granaries and the telephone directorate in the town of Azaz. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

The Syrian opposition’s negotiation to Geneva talks met with representatives of the Friends of Syria group on Tuesday to discuss developments of the political process in Geneva aimed at achieving political transition in line with international resolutions, including UNSC resolutions 2118 and 2254.

The conferees condemned the ongoing violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Assad regime forces and the Iranian-backed militias, stressing the need to hold accountable perpetrators of war crimes against civilians in Syria.

The conferees denounced Russia and China for vetoing on Tuesday the Western-backed draft resolution seeking to sanction perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria. They stressed that this move risks encouraging terrorism as it shields criminals against punishment for their actions as well as having a negative impact on the ongoing political process in Geneva.

Representatives of the Friends of Syria group urged the opposition negotiation delegation to continue to deal positively with the political process in Geneva and to thoroughly discuss the suggestions and ideas put forward by the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

Nasr Hariri, head of the opposition’s negotiation delegation to Geneva talks, said that the opposition delegation is having an “in-depth discussion” with the UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura on political transition. He stressed that the “opposition will go ahead with the talks as long as the United Nations and the UN envoy are serious about finding a political solution in Syria.”

Speaking to reporters in Geneva following a meeting with the UN mediator on Tuesday, Hariri said that the “political transition is chief among the aspirations of the Syrian people who have so far made immense sacrifices to achieve their goals.”

“The only partner in the political process is the international community,” Hariri said. He noted that “the political transition is essential to restoring peace and security in Syria as well as to countering terrorism in Syria and possibly in the entire region.”

“No clear agenda for the political process has been set yet,” Hariri said. He added that “the opposition has not yet entered into direct negotiations with the Assad regime which is trying to derail the political process."

“The Assad regime insists on making the fight against terror the main focus of negotiations just to continue the bombing of the FSA and rebel-held areas.” Hariri also said that the Assad regime is targeting the FSA groups battling the ISIS extremist group in northern and southern Syria, especially in the town of Muzeirib in rural Dara’a.

Hariri said that the opposition delegation will meet with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Gennady Gatilov, on Wednesday to "discuss the cease-fire and the humanitarian issues in the light of the humanitarian deteriorating situation in many areas across Syria, especially in eastern Ghouta.” The meeting will also discuss ways to shore up the political process. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)